Control device for gas burner

ABSTRACT

A control device for a gas burner includes a housing having a chamber and an inlet and an outlet portion communicating with the chamber of the housing for receiving a gas, a casing rotatably engaged into the chamber of the housing for controlling the flowing of the gas from the inlet to the outlet portion of the housing, a mouth piece attached to the outlet portion of the housing for allowing the gas to flow out through the mouth piece, and a gas nozzle selectively attached to the mouth piece and having an outlet opening smaller than that of the mouth piece for supplying a reduced gas out through the gas nozzle and for fitting with the natural or the bottled gas reservoirs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a control device for a gas burner, and more particularly to a control device including a structure for changeably or selectively coupling the gas burner to different gas reservoirs, such as the bottled gas reservoir, the natural gas reservoir and the like and for allowing the different gas reservoirs to suitably supply the gas to the gas burner without changing the control device.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical gas burners comprise a valve device for coupling to a gas reservoir, such as the bottled gas reservoir, the natural gas reservoir and the like which may supply the gas to the gas burner, and a control device to control the flowing or the supplying of the gas from the gas reservoir to the gas burner.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,646,214 to Home discloses one of the typical ignition knobs of a gas stove comprising a gas flow axle valve for coupling the gas burner or the gas stove to a gas reservoir.

However, normally, the gas flow axle valves or the gas control devices may only be used to couple the gas burner or the gas stove to the natural gas reservoir only, and the other gas flow axle valves or the other gas control devices may not be used to couple the gas burner or the gas stove to the other gas reservoirs, such as the bottled gas reservoirs, such that the gas burners or the gas stoves may not be easily and changeably or selectively coupled to different gas reservoirs.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional control devices for the gas burners or the gas stoves.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a control device including a structure for changeably or selectively coupling the gas burner to different gas reservoirs, such as the bottled gas reservoir, the natural gas reservoir and the like and for allowing the different gas reservoirs to suitably supply the gas to the gas burner.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a control device for a gas burner comprising a housing including a chamber formed therein, and including an inlet communicating with the chamber of the housing for receiving a gas, and including an outlet portion having a bore formed therein and communicating with the chamber of the housing, a casing rotatably engaged into the chamber of the housing for controlling a flowing of the gas from the inlet of the housing to the outlet portion of the housing, a mouth piece attached to the outlet portion of the housing for allowing the gas to flow out through the mouth piece, and a gas nozzle selectively attached to the mouth piece and including an outlet opening having an inner diameter smaller than that of the mouth piece and for supplying a reduced gas out through the outlet opening of the gas nozzle and for allowing the control device to be changeably or selectively coupled to different gas reservoirs, such as the bottled gas reservoir, the natural gas reservoir or the other gas reservoirs.

The mouth piece includes a narrowed neck portion formed therein, and the outlet opening of the gas nozzle includes an inner diameter smaller than that of the narrowed neck portion of the mouth piece.

The casing includes an orifice formed therein for selectively aligning with the inlet of the housing. The casing includes a slot formed therein and communicating with the orifice of the casing for adjusting a communicating area between the orifice of the casing and the inlet of the housing.

The casing includes a depression formed therein for selectively aligning with the inlet of the housing. The casing includes a path and a pathway formed therein and communicating with the depression of the casing for selectively aligning with the inlet of the housing.

The casing includes a passage and a passageway formed therein and communicating with each other and communicating with the path and the pathway respectively. The passage of the casing is directed toward the outlet portion of the housing and includes an inner diameter greater than that of the passageway of the casing for forming an inner peripheral shoulder between the passage and the passageway of the casing.

A valve member is further provided and rotatably engaged in the passageway of the casing, and includes a space formed therein and communicating with the passage of the casing, and includes an aperture formed therein and communicating with the space of the valve member for selectively aligning with the pathway of the casing. The space of the valve member is a blind space. The valve member includes an engaging recesses formed therein for being rotated relative to the casing.

The casing includes at least one engaging notch formed therein, and an actuating tube is further provided and includes at least one projection extended therefrom for selectively engaging with the engaging notch of the casing and for selectively rotating the casing relative to the housing.

A spring member may further be provided and engaged between the casing and the actuating tube for biasing and forcing the projection of the actuating tube away from the engaging notch of the casing.

A cover may further be provided and secured to the housing and includes a bore formed therein for s rotatably and slidably receiving the actuating tube. The cover includes a stop formed therein, and a ring member is attached to the actuating tube and includes a protrusion extended therefrom for selectively engaging with the stop of the cover and for limiting the actuating tube to rotate relative to the cover.

The actuating tube includes a cam portion formed therein, and the ring member also includes a cam portion formed therein for selectively engaging with the cam portion of the actuating tube and for allowing the ring member to be rotated in concert with the actuating tube.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a control device for coupling or attaching to a gas burner or a gas stove in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the control device for the gas burner or the gas stove;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a valve casing of the control device for the gas burner or the gas stove;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the control device taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8 are cross sectional views similar to FIG. 4, illustrating the operation of the control device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-4, a control device 1 in accordance with the present invention is provided for changeably or selectively coupling a gas burner or a gas stove (not shown) to different gas reservoirs, such as the bottled gas reservoir (not shown), the natural gas reservoir (not shown) and the like and for allowing the different gas reservoirs to suitably supply the gas to the gas burner. For example, the control device 1 comprises a housing 10 including a chamber 11 formed therein and having an inclined or tapered or cone-shaped structure, and including an inlet 12 communicating with the chamber 11 of the housing 10 for coupling to either the bottled gas reservoir or the natural gas reservoir and for allowing the gas reservoirs to supply the gas to the chamber 11 of the housing 10.

The housing 10 includes an outlet end or outlet portion 13 having a bore 14 formed therein and communicating with the chamber 11 of the housing 10, and having an inner thread 15 formed in the bore 14 of the outlet portion 13 of the housing 10, in which the bore 14 of the outlet portion 13 of the housing 10 includes a greater inner diameter for coupling to the gas burner which is applicable or workable with the natural gas supplied from the natural gas reservoir. A mouth piece 20 includes an outer thread 21 for threading or engaging with the inner thread 15 of the outlet portion 13 of the housing 10 and for detachably attaching the mouth piece 20 to the outlet portion 13 of the housing 10, and includes a bore 22 formed therein for allowing the gas to flow out through the bore 22 of the mouth piece 20, and includes a diameter reduced or narrowed neck portion 23 formed therein.

The diameter reduced or narrowed neck portion 23 of the mouth piece 20 includes an inner diameter smaller than that of the inner diameter of the bore 14 of the outlet portion 13 of the housing 10 and also for coupling to the gas burner which is applicable or workable with the natural gas supplied from the natural gas reservoir. The mouth piece 20 further includes an inner thread 24 formed in the other end portion thereof and opposite to the outer threaded end 21 for threading or engaging with a gas nozzle 25 which includes an outlet opening 26 having an inner diameter smaller than that of the diameter reduced or narrowed neck portion 23 of the mouth piece 20 for coupling to the gas burner which is designed and applicable or workable with the gas supplied from the bottled gas reservoir, or for supplying the reduced gas to the gas burner.

A casing 30 is engaged into the chamber 11 of the housing 10, and includes an inclined or tapered or cone-shaped structure corresponding to that of the chamber 11 of the housing 10 for allowing the casing 30 to be snugly fitted within the chamber 11 of the housing 10, and includes a passage 31 and a passageway 32 formed therein and aligned and communicating with each other, in which the passage 31 is facing or directed toward the outlet portion 13 of the housing 10 and includes an inner diameter greater than that of the passageway 32 of the casing 30 for forming an inner peripheral shoulder 33 therein or between the passage 31 and the passageway 32 of the casing 30. The casing 30 further includes a depression 34 formed in the middle and the outer peripheral portion thereof for selectively aligning with the inlet 12 of the housing 10 (FIGS. 4, 8), and includes a path 35 and a pathway 36 formed therein.

As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, the path 35 and the pathway 36 are communicating with the depression 34 of the casing 30 for selectively aligning with or communicating with the inlet 12 of the housing 10, and are aligned with the passage 31 and the passageway 32 of the casing 30 for communicating with the passage 31 and the passageway 32 of the casing 30 respectively. The casing 30 further includes an orifice 37 also formed in the middle and the outer peripheral portion thereof for selectively aligning with the inlet 12 of the housing 10 (FIGS. 5, 6), and includes a tapered or inclined slot 38 formed in the middle and the outer peripheral portion thereof (FIG. 3) and communicating with the orifice 37 of the casing 30 for adjusting the communicating area between the orifice 37 of the casing 30 and the inlet 12 of the housing 10, and includes one or more engaging notches 39 formed therein and located closer to the passageway 32 of the casing 30 but distal to the passage 31 of the casing 30.

A cover 40 is secured to the housing 10 with one or more fasteners 41 for stably anchoring the casing 30 in the housing 10, and includes a bore 42 formed therein and facing toward or aligned with the passageway 32 of the casing 30, and includes a compartment 43 formed therein (FIG. 2) and having an inner diameter greater than that of the bore 42 of the cover 40 for forming an inner peripheral shoulder 44 formed therein or between the bore 42 and the compartment 43 of the cover 40, and includes a curved stop 45 formed or extended in the compartment 43 of the cover 40 and extendible out of the cover 40 for selectively engaging into the chamber 11 of the housing 10. A fastener plate 46 may further be provided and engaged with or secured to the cover 40 with the fasteners 41, and the fastener plate 46 may be provided for attaching or securing to the gas burner.

An actuating tube 50 is rotatably and slidably engaged in the bore 42 of the cover 40, and includes an enlarged peripheral flange 51 for selectively engaging with the inner peripheral shoulder 44 of the cover 40 and for limiting or guiding the actuating tube 50 to rotate relative to the cover 40 only and for preventing the actuating tube 50 from sliding relative to the cover 40 and includes a bore 52 formed therein, and includes one or more (such as two) projections 53 extended outwardly therefrom for selectively engaging with the engaging notches 39 of the casing 30 and for allowing the casing 30 to be selectively rotated relative to the housing 10 and the cover 40 by the actuating tube 50, and for allowing the orifice 37 and the depression 34 and/or the path 35 and the pathway 36 of the casing 30 to be selectively aligned with and communicating with the inlet 12 of the housing 10 (FIGS. 4, 8; and 5, 6).

The actuating tube 50 includes non-circular member or a cam portion 54 formed therein, and includes a ring member 55 attached onto the actuating tube 50 and having a non-circular member or a cam portion 56 formed therein for engaging with the corresponding cam portion 54 of the actuating tube 50 and for allowing the ring member 55 to be rotated in concert with the actuating tube 50, and the ring member 55 includes a protrusion 57 extended outwardly therefrom for selectively engaging with the curved stop 45 of the cover 40 and for limiting or guiding the actuating tube 50 to rotate relative to the cover 40 within a selected angular range or rotatable range, or for limiting or guiding the orifice 37 and the depression 34 and/or the path 35 and the pathway 36 of the casing 30 to be selectively aligned with and communicating with the inlet 12 of the housing 10.

A spring member 58 may be disposed and engaged between the casing 30 and the actuating tube 50 and/or the ring member 55 for biasing and separating the projections 53 of the actuating tube 50 from the engaging notches 39 of the casing 30 and for preventing the casing 30 from being rotated by the actuating tube 50. A handle or a knob 59 may be attached to the actuating tube 50 for rotating the actuating tube 50 and the casing 30 relative to the housing 10 and the cover 40, and thus for selectively causing the orifice 37 and the depression 34 and/or the path 35 and the pathway 36 of the casing 30 to align with and/or to communicate with the inlet 12 of the housing 10, in order to control the flowing condition or the supplying of the gas from the gas reservoir and the inlet 12 of the housing 10 to the mouth piece 20 and the outlet portion 13 of the housing 10.

A valve member 60 is rotatably engaged in the passageway 32 of the casing 30, and includes an enlarged peripheral rib 61 extended radially and outwardly therefrom for selectively engaging with the inner peripheral shoulder 33 of the casing 30 and for limiting or guiding the valve member 60 to rotate relative to the casing 30 only and for preventing the valve member 60 from sliding relative to the casing 30, and includes a blind hole or space 62 formed therein and facing toward and communicating with the passage 31 of the casing 30, and includes an aperture 63 formed therein and communicating with the blind space 62 of the valve member 60 for selectively aligning with the pathway 36 of the casing 30 (FIG. 8) and for allowing the gas from the gas reservoir and the inlet 12 of the housing 10 to selectively flow through both the path 35 and the pathway 36 of the casing 30 and to flow into the passage 31 of the casing 30.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 7, 8, the valve member 60 includes one or more (such as two) engaging recesses 64 formed therein, and a driving tool (not shown) may be engaged through the bore 52 of the actuating tube 50 and engaged with the engaging recesses 64 of the valve member 60 for driving or rotating the valve member 60 relative to the casing 30 and for selectively aligning the aperture 63 of the valve member 60 with the pathway 36 of the casing 30 in order to control or to adjust the flowing or the supplying of the gas from the gas reservoir and the inlet 12 of the housing 10 to the passage 31 of the casing 30 and to the mouth piece 20 and the outlet portion 13 of the housing 10.

In operation, as shown in FIGS. 4-7, when the control device 1 is coupled to a bottled gas reservoir, the driving tool (not shown) may be engaged through the bore 52 of the actuating tube 50 and engaged with the engaging recesses 64 of the valve member 60 for driving or rotating the valve member 60 relative to the casing 30 and for separating or offsetting the aperture 63 of the valve member 60 from the pathway 36 of the casing 30 and thus for preventing the gas from flowing through the pathway 36 of the casing 30, and for allowing the gas from the gas reservoir and the inlet 12 of the housing 10 to selectively flow through the path 35 of the casing 30 only (FIG. 4) and then to selectively flow into the passage 31 of the casing 30.

The orifice 37 and the depression 34 and/or the path 35 and the pathway 36 of the casing 30 may be selectively aligned with and communicating with the inlet 12 of the housing 10 for adjusting the flowing or the supplying of the gas from the gas reservoir and the inlet 12 of the housing 10 to the mouth piece 20 and the outlet portion 13 of the housing 10. The attachment of the gas nozzle 25 to the mouth piece 20 may adjust or reduce the flowing or the supplying of the gas through the mouth piece 20 and thus for allowing the gas to be suitably supplied to the control device 1 that is coupled to the bottled gas reservoir.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 8, when the control device 1 is coupled to a natural gas reservoir, the gas nozzle 25 is removed or disengaged from the mouth piece 20, and the narrowed neck portion 23 of the mouth piece 20 is provided for suitably supplying the gas from the natural gas reservoir to the control device 1. The valve member 60 may also be rotated relative to the casing 30 with the driving tool for selectively aligning the aperture 63 of the valve member 60 with the pathway 36 of the casing 30 and for allowing the gas to flow through the pathway 36 of the casing 30 and to flow into the passage 31 of the casing 30, and thus to increase the flowing or the supplying of the gas to the mouth piece 20 and the outlet portion 13 of the housing 10.

Accordingly, the control device in accordance with the present invention includes a structure for changeably or selectively coupling the gas burner to different gas reservoirs, such as the bottled gas reservoir, the natural gas reservoir and the like and for thus allowing the different gas reservoirs to suitably supply the gas to the gas burner.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. A control device for a gas burner comprising: a housing including a chamber formed therein, and including an inlet communicating with said chamber of said housing for receiving a gas, and including an outlet portion having a bore formed therein and communicating with said chamber of said housing, a casing rotatably engaged into said chamber of said housing for controlling a flowing of the gas from said inlet of said housing to said outlet portion of said housing, a mouth piece attached to said outlet portion of said housing for allowing the gas to flow out through said mouth piece, and a gas nozzle selectively attached to said mouth piece and including an outlet opening having an inner diameter smaller than that of said mouth piece and for supplying a reduced gas out through said outlet opening of said gas nozzle.
 2. The control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mouth piece includes a narrowed neck portion formed therein, and said outlet opening of said gas nozzle includes an inner diameter smaller than that of said narrowed neck portion of said mouth piece.
 3. The control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said casing includes an orifice formed therein for selectively aligning with said inlet of said housing.
 4. The control device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said casing includes a slot formed therein and communicating with said orifice of said casing for adjusting a communicating area between said orifice of said casing and said inlet of said housing.
 5. The control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said casing includes a depression formed therein for selectively aligning with said inlet of said housing.
 6. The control device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said casing includes a path and a pathway formed therein and communicating with said depression of said casing for selectively aligning with said inlet of said housing.
 7. The control device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said casing includes a passage and a passageway formed therein and communicating with each other and communicating with said path and said pathway respectively.
 8. The control device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said passage of said casing is directed toward said outlet portion of said housing and includes an inner diameter greater than that of said passageway of said casing for forming an inner peripheral shoulder between said passage and said passageway of said casing.
 9. The control device as claimed in claim 7, wherein a valve member is rotatably engaged in said passageway of said casing, and includes a space formed therein and communicating with said passage of said casing, and includes an aperture formed therein and communicating with said space of said valve member for selectively aligning with said pathway of said casing.
 10. The control device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said space of said valve member is a blind space.
 11. The control device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said valve member includes an engaging recesses formed therein for being rotated relative to said casing.
 12. The control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said casing includes at least one engaging notch formed therein, and an actuating tube includes at least one projection extended therefrom for selectively engaging with said at least one engaging notch of said casing and for selectively rotating said casing relative to said housing.
 13. The control device as claimed in claim 12 further comprising a spring member provided between said casing and said actuating tube for biasing said at least one projection of said actuating tube away from said at least one engaging notch of said casing.
 14. The control device as claimed in claim 12 further comprising a cover secured to said housing and including a bore formed therein for s rotatably and slidably receiving said actuating tube.
 15. The control device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said cover includes a stop formed therein, and a ring member is attached to said actuating tube and includes a protrusion extended therefrom for selectively engaging with said stop of said cover and for limiting said actuating tube to rotate relative to said cover.
 16. The control device as claimed in claim 15, wherein said actuating tube includes a cam portion formed therein, and said ring member includes a cam portion formed therein for engaging with said cam portion of said actuating tube and for allowing said ring member to be rotated in concert with said actuating tube. 